Upon the release of the Steenberg Five Lives red blend, Steenberg delved into the various chapters of its founder, Cataharina Ras’ life.
In many ways, Catharina’s story is reflective of the resilience of women throughout history and women who have built their lives and businesses in the Cape Winelands.
For instance, in 1704, the widow Cloete returned from Stellenbosch to the property in the Swartland, to have found the farm engulfed by fire. The estate’s name is reflective of this devastation, Allesverloren means ‘all is lost’.
Similarly, the Van Loveren family looked to their intrepid matriarch when naming their Christiena Trousseau range. In 1699, Christiena van Loveren bore her bridal trousseau and founded her new life in South Africa. Her descendants named their site-specific, small batch wines from the Robertson wine valley in her honour.
Throughout history, the boldness of women has brought power, dynamism, pain, inspiration and delight to the wonder of the winelands.
Modern history might consider the founder of Dainty Bess, Jane Ferreira Eedes and how she grew up in Wellington, where her father planted a small amount of Pinot Noir. She named her business, Dainty Bess after a rose that her mother grew in her garden.
Similarly, history might favour Ann Ferreira the visionary primary investor of Pieter Ferreira Cap Classique. Time will likely smile upon Californian media executive, Samantha Lismore who looked to a dairy farm in Greyton, made history, survived a fire and brought her inaugural Sheltering Sky Syrah 2022, an Elgin wine to her debut Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild auction.
Catherine Schulze, Managing Director of Beck Family Hospitality says that Steenberg has supported The Clothing Bank (TCB) during August as part of its ‘Women Inspired’ series for a few successive years.
The Clothing Bank (TCB), is a nationwide non-profit company which was founded in 2010 in Cape Town with the intention to upskill and empower previously unemployed, aspiring entrepreneurs.
Lisa an entrepreneur and mother of two says that with the help of TCB she buys clothes and sells clothes them in her community.
Fellow entrepreneur, Olga, a mother of three elaborates: “through the help of their mentors, I am able to have savings today, I’m able to have my policies, I’m able to provide for my kids. I’m able to say: I’m running a sustainable business.”
Lisa says that through this support: “I was able to take my children to school, people from my community look up to me. I’m able to be an independent woman.”
Steenberg restaurant, Tryn is named in honour of Catharina Ras. Tryn and Steenberg’s Bistro 1682 are helmed by Executive Chef, Kerry Kilpin. A dish inspired by women from Steenberg Executive Chef Kerry Kilpin and her two Sous Chefs, Penny Garrod and Shene van der Westhuizen, is part of the effort to support TCB and its entrepreneurs. Steenberg also provides a portion of proceeds from the sale of wine to TCB, as part of its #WomenInspired efforts.
Top image: Steenberg Executive Chef, Kerry Kilpin
“Empowering women is something we feel incredibly passionate about, with our rich heritage of female leaders and incredible women. We feel that The Clothing Bank does a wonderful and inspired job of creating strong women, giving them their power back, giving them their place in society, keeping them out of poverty and we are proud to support them in any way we can,” says Elunda Basson, Steenberg Vineyards’ Cellarmaster and Chief Operating Officer.
Elunda has had an illustrious career since her first turn as the assistant winemaker at Rickety Bridge in Franschhoek in 1998. She has also received wide acclaim for her work at Nederburg and as the previous lead winemaker for the House of JC Le Roux.
Top image: Steenberg COO and Cellarmaster, Elunda Basson
Catharina Ras, the founder of Steenberg first journeyed to the Cape 1662. A widow five times over, Catharina overcame tragedy and received a mandate in 1688 to “cultivate, plough and sow” the farm known as ‘Swaaneweide’, ‘the feeding place of Swans’.
Steenberg Five Lives, a Bordeaux blend comprised of 76% Merlot and 24% Cabernet Sauvignon bears labels which chronicle Catharina’s story.
Top image: Steenberg Five Lives Red Blend
Elunda considers Catharina’s admirable spirit of courage when reflecting on her own work.
“The courage to step out of my comfort zone from working solely on sparkling wines for many years, to honing my skills with Sauvignon Blanc. Perseverance through the long hours during harvest and flourish when the fruit of my labour is revealed in the final wine,” Elunda says.
Elunda worked at the helm of JC Le Roux and Pongracz, renowned sparkling wine producers from 2007, until her appointment at Steenberg in 2019.
The reintroduction of still wines from sparkling, Elunda says: “was like getting back onto a bicycle after a long time. A little rusty at the start, but like old times.”
Steenberg has a wide portfolio, which includes still wines as well as sparkling. Elunda elaborates: “certain basics are part of winemaking – regardless of the style of wine and those principles remain relevant. Besides the wonderful opportunity to join the Constantia Valley and work with the beautiful terroir – Steenberg was well worth stepping out of my comfort zone.”
The Constantia hamlet which first drew Catharina, has become renowned for Sauvignon Blanc. At Steenberg, there are several expressions of Sauvignon Blanc. Elunda elaborates: “with our proximity to the ocean, the South-Easterly wind, the protection from the mountain and our soil of decomposed granite, the terroir calls out for Sauvignon Blanc.”
Beyond the terroir, Steenberg has received wide acclaim in the glass. Steenberg Lady R Cap Classique 2017 achieved 93 points and The Black Swan Sauvignon Blanc received 92 points for three successive vintages from Tim Atkin, MW in his tenth South Africa special report.
“There are usually lots of small moments during the winemaking process that give clues as to which of the tanks or batches are going to be showstoppers for the vintage. But, when you get goosebumps during the blending sessions – you know the final selection is going to be magnificent! These moments make the hard work worthwhile,” Elunda says.
Top image: Nontsikelelo, Lisa and Olga, entrepreneurs who have worked with TCB
- Blog by Tshepang Molisana